Whole Chicken in the Crockpot

Whole Chicken in the Crockpot is one of my go-to recipes for simple, real food meals. With only the chicken plus four additional ingredients, I could probably make it in my sleep!

Measurements are listed for reference, but I’m way past the point of bothering with them for this recipe.

Just spread chopped onions on the bottom of the crockpot and add the chicken. Pour red wine and balsamic vinegar, in that order, over the chicken. Sprinkle generously with seasoning. I use this awesome Homemade Herbamare, a simple blend of herbs and unrefined sea salt. Put the lid on the crockpot, set the knob to low, and get ready for a delicious dinner.

Note: fresh herbs can be substituted for the Homemade Herbamare. Sprigs of fresh rosemary are my favorite! Simply arrange them beneath, around, and inside the chicken.

Be sure to save all the bones and skins for making Homemade Chicken Broth! In fact, I often cook two chickens at once, in two separate crockpots. This saves me time by providing plenty of meat for later use, and plenty of bones and skins for making broth.

Tips for Deboning:--Don your favorite apron, or prepare to ruin your shirt. (Or am I the only one who requires this step?)--After turning off the crockpot and removing the lid, it's helpful to wait for at least 30 minutes or more. (The chicken will be smokin' HOT!)--Lay an old towel on a flat surface and place a large cutting board on top. Make sure your towel is larger than the cutting board, to catch the greasy juices.--Carefully remove chicken and place on cutting board. Again, it's best to wait at least 30 minutes, to allow the chicken to cool a bit. Pry it apart a bit, to help it cool faster.--Get your bowls ready: one for the meat, one for bones and scraps.--Use your fingers to remove all meat.--Save the bones and all scraps (skin, innards, onions, etc) for making Homemade Chicken Broth. I usually strain the cooking liquid to serve with the chicken, placing the bones and scraps back into the crockpot right away and covering with water to start a batch of Homemade Chicken Broth.

3.5.3208

Tips for Deboning:

Don your favorite apron, or prepare to ruin your shirt. 🙂 (Or am I the only one who requires this step?)

After turning off the crockpot and removing the lid, it’s helpful to wait for at least 30 minutes or more. (The chicken will be smokin’ HOT!)

Lay an old towel on a flat surface and place a large cutting board on top. Make sure your towel is larger than the cutting board, to catch the greasy juices.

Carefully remove chicken and place on cutting board. Again, it’s best to wait at least 30 minutes, to allow the chicken to cool a bit. Pry it apart a bit, to help it cool faster.

Get your bowls ready: one for the meat, one for bones and scraps.

Use your fingers to remove all meat.

Save the bones and all scraps (skin, innards, onions, etc) for making Homemade Chicken Broth. I usually strain the cooking liquid and serve it with the chicken, placing the bones and scraps back into the crockpot right away and covering with water to start a batch of Homemade Chicken Broth.

Kathleen Henderson is the Yankee behind the Homestead, where she keeps up with Mr. Native Texan, three busy boys, a large dog, an assortment of chickens and an organic garden on three beautiful acres in Northern Virginia. Yankee Homestead is where she organizes her tips, tricks and resources for a healthy life. Favorite topics include real food recipes, gluten-free living, essential oils and home remedies, all things natural and nontoxic, plus mommy musings and homeschooling resources. Find out more on the About page

Disclosure: In order to support this blog, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of reimbursement for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Yankee Homestead Media LLC is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products mentioned here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please do not ask me for medical advice.

Hi, I'm Kathleen! Married to a native Texan, I'm a country-living, homeschooling, work-at-home mom of three energetic boys with a passion to educate and empower women to make over their family's health. Want to get healthy, but don't know where to start? Come along and join our journey...your real-life healthy living starts here!